Despite the unlikelihood of Tiger Woods winning another Green Jacket or major, he continues to be a significant storyline in golf. For the second consecutive year, the Masters will start without Woods in the field, as he hasn’t completed four rounds at the Masters since 2022. However, there was a brief moment this year when Brandel Chamblee considered the possibility of one more comeback.
Chamblee appeared on Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast to discuss the Masters and reflected on Woods’ performance during the inaugural season of TGL in January. “His ball speed was 176 and he was pushing off his right foot,” Chamblee remarked. “We’re not supposed to cheer in the press box, I get that. But we’re talking about Tiger Woods, the most animated, and arguably the greatest player of all time possibly making a comeback, and I couldn’t help but get a little excited. I’ve never seen him swing that well since his most recent accident. The news of him tearing his Achilles was a tough day for golf. There’s nothing that excites the golf world more than the possibility of Tiger Woods returning to play a tournament. Nothing.”
Chamblee continued, emphasizing how thrilling Woods was for the sport: “Everything he did was so exciting. He made the job so easy. Here’s your story tonight, here’s your breakdown; you could just feature him chipping, and it would draw great ratings. Once he shuffled off the competitive coil, it’s not a knock on the current players, but we’re still experiencing a Tiger Woods hangover. It’s like we just got to watch Babe Ruth or Sandy Koufax.” He acknowledged that while Woods has made remarkable comebacks from injuries and personal issues in the past, expecting him to do so now—especially at 50 years old after suffering a ruptured Achilles—seems increasingly far-fetched.
As long as Woods continues to prepare for majors, fans will hold out hope for the chance to see him string together four days of greatness one last time. This prolonged Tiger Woods hangover has undoubtedly made it more challenging for others to emerge as the faces of golf. However, if Woods is on the course, he will always remain the biggest attraction in the sport.
